Russian winters are harsh yet extraordinarily beautiful, and it’s the lands above the Arctic Circle where winter’s transformational effects are most keenly felt. The Kola Peninsula is home to people and animals who survive and thrive despite the chilling temperatures. Ending in the ‘capital’ of the Arctic Circle, Murmansk, this Northern Lights tour shows you two sides to life in the Russian Winter, from the grandiose cities of Moscow and St Petersburg to the polar landscapes of the remote Kola Peninsula.

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

Moscow City Tour: Begin your journey in Russia’s mighty capital discovering moscow’s highlights. Start with a guided exploration of the Kremlin in its finest winter decorations, before heading underground to discover the famous Moscow Metro system and its lavishly decorated subterranean stations

Armed with the knowledge of an expert guide, uncover some of the most esteemed treasures among the 3 million works of art in St Petersburg’s State Hermitage Museum

Hovercraft Ride: Visit the small rural settlement of Kizhi Island, today an enchanting open-air museum with over 80 original wooden structures from the 14th to 17th centuries. In the middle of Lake Obega, Kizhi is only accessible in winter via a hovercraft able to navigate the icy, aquatic terrain

To visualise the northern lights discovery, imagine a place that lives, works and plays above the Polar Circle. This extraordinary place is Kola Peninsula in Russia’s Arctic. Kola may not be on the tourist radar, but that’s what makes it special. The small city of Murmansk of around 300,000 residents are compact, but it’s the surrounding Arctic nature and the well-preserved indigenous cultures that will enthral the intrepid traveller. Murmansk is also known to be one of the best places to see the northern lights in Russia in all its glory. READ MORE

Kamchatka heli skiing adventure take takes you to soaring ridges blanketed in untouched deep powder snow, and the majestic volcanoes of the Pacific Ring of Fire in all their white winter splendour. Your helicopter touches down in the middle of nowhere – the summit of a towering and very-much-alive volcano. The Mi-8 helicopter is the ultimate chairlift, and the volcanic slopes of Kamchatka are the ultimate free ride. As the chopper disappears from view, the sense of isolation and the sheer silence of the mountains is profound. Take a moment to meditate on exactly where you are – one of the wildest, most remote places on Earth – then take a deep breath and away you go. This Kamchatka skiing tour is a winter wonderland! READ MORE

Discover Yakutia – a faraway place that plays host to ethereal polar nights and the northern lights, permafrost tundra and vast expanses of taiga forest. About 40% of Yakutia lies above the Arctic Circle, and much of it remains wild, pristine and largely unspoiled by development. One of Siberia’s most ethnically diverse regions, Yakutia is home to the Turkic-speaking Yakuts, many of whom still practice shamanism and nomadic lifestyles. The region is blessed with spectacular wildlife and is renowned for producing some of the cleanest diamonds on Earth. If you are searching for a unique and genuine Russian winter experience, this is the place to be. READ MORE

This Kamchatka Winter Tour is your chance to visit one of the most remote and pristine destinations on Earth – the Kamchatka Peninsula, on the edge of the Pacific Rim of Fire. There are no roads or railways from Kamchatka to the rest of the world – the only practical way in is by air. For lovers of wildlife and rugged natural scenery, it is a no-brainer to visit Kamchatka – a paradise on Earth.